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Javier Márquez
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Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, knows AI runs on more than just language models. It also requires massive—and stable—amounts of energy. That’s why Meta has signed a 20-year agreement with Constellation Energy to supply nuclear electricity to some of its data centers in the U.S. This isn’t a symbolic gesture or a green bet for show. It’s a calculated move to protect infrastructure and maintain a competitive edge in AI development.
The move is significant. The tech giant has signed with the Clinton Clean Energy Center nuclear plant in Illinois to power its regional data centers starting in 2027. The reactor was set to close in 2017 after years of financial losses, but it has remained operational. According to the Menlo Park-based firm, the agreement will preserve more than 1,100 jobs by keeping the facility running.
Nuclear Energy Enters the Scene as a Solution for Meta
The company’s investment will also fund upgrades to increase energy output by 30 megawatts, bringing the total capacity to 1,121 megawatts. While it’s unclear how much of that output Meta will use to power its AI infrastructure, current production can supply about 800,000 U.S. homes.
As demand for data center energy grows exponentially, the tech industry is searching for solutions that offer a stable supply while honoring environmental goals. Nuclear power has reemerged as a viable alternative, offering consistent output and zero carbon dioxide emissions during generation—unlike solar or wind, which depend on weather conditions.
Goldman Sachs anticipated this shift. In a recent report, the investment bank warned that if AI adoption continues, energy demand tied to the technology could increase 160-fold by 2030. To meet that growth, the U.S. would need to add 85 to 90 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity. Nuclear energy remains a high-performance, low-carbon option in this scenario.
Meta’s move isn’t an outlier. Google has also pursued nuclear energy, signing agreements with companies such as Kairos Power, which is developing small modular reactors (SMRs) of up to 500 megawatts. Amazon has invested in constructing advanced reactors through deals with Energy Northwest, Dominion Energy and X-energy, a startup working on next-generation fast reactors.
Still, nuclear power faces hurdles. Its infrastructure is expensive, and safety and waste management concerns remain, especially due to past technologies. But newer reactor generations, including SMRs, aim to overcome these issues with safer designs, faster deployment and more manageable costs.
For companies like Meta, securing a long-term, reliable energy supply with a minimal carbon footprint is the top priority. The agreement with Constellation Energy reflects that—but whether the plan proceeds as expected remains to be seen. It wouldn’t be the first time a project like this has run into complications: In 2022, a similar initiative in Idaho stalled after a rare bee species was discovered on the construction site.
Image | Constellation
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